Collapsible crate



May 19, 1925. 1,538,211

E. E. PINKERTON GOLLPSIBLE CRATE l 1W?. f

-May 19, 1925. 1,538,211

E. E. PINKERTN COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed Jan. 25, 1924 s sheets-sheet s Patented May. 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. PINKERTON, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Application `led January 25, 1924. Serial No. 688,428.

p is a specification.

My invention relates tov im rovements in collapsible crates, especially a a ted for use in shlpping various articles, an has for its object the provlsion of a simpleand ellicient construction of this character which is capable of economical manufacture.'

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and ari-an ements of parts hereinafter described an claimed. The inventionwill be best understood by reference vto the accompanying drawin s forming a part of this specification, and m which- Fig. 1 is a top` plan view of a crate embodying the invention' K Fig. 2, a side view of the same;

g. 3, a perspective view of a collapsible bod emplyed in the crate but showmg a slig tl di erent forni of construction from that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4, an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 of Fig.2; A

Fig. 5, a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; .l

ig. 6, an enlarged section taken online paper, thin wood, or other comparatively 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7, a pe ctive view of a corner member employed or re-enforcing the body o the crate at the corners;

Fig. 8, a top plan view of the crate showg a modified form of construction for securing the parts together;

Fig. 9, an end view 'corresponding with Fig. 8, an u ig. 10, a perspective view of another modied form of collapsible body employed in the crate. A

The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 comprises a collapsible tubular body open at top and bottom and formed of the end walls 11 and the f side walls 12 hingedly connected together at the corners .so as to be capable of co1- lap g into fiat form as indicated by the dotted lines in- Fig. 3. The body 11-12 is preferablymade of fibre board, corrugated weak and, therefore, cheap material. Reenforcin members 13 in the form of angular meta 'c channel members vare fitted o ver each .corner of the body tol re-enforee the same and metallic members 14.- are also fitted centrally over the side walls 12 for the same pprpose. Removable top and bottom meml rs are associated with the body thus ro-I vided. The said top and bottom mem ers each consists of strips 15 arranged ,to fit snugl .re-en orcing and protecting liangestherefo'r. The body of eac `to an bottom member is composed of a num r of longitudinal slats.

16 nailed or otherwise secured to the strip 15 as shown. The top and bottom members over the walls 11--12 constituting i" held in place by means of pliable metallic strips 17 bent around theend-'stripsl as shown. By this arrangement a? simple, Ali ht and efficient shipping crate is provi ed which is capable of very economical manuT facture. In the form of body illustrated in 3 the re-enforc' members 13 and 14`are pensed with an Ycloth. re-enforcing members 18 glued to the outer sides ofthe wall mem- `bers at each corner. 7 v In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 the top and bottom members are held in lace by means of binding wires 19 instead o .the strips 17.

The body 'inemberillustrated in Fig. 10

' is made without re-enforcing members elther at the corners or on the sides and the'end walls are centrally creased at V20 to permit of inward folding thereof as indicated, thus permitting of the body being collapsed into more compact form. Y

While I have illustrated and described fthe preferred'forms of construction for carrying my invention into eii'ect, these are caable of variation and modification without eparting from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myselfY of such'variations and k modificationsas. fall within the scope of the ap nded claims.

aving described my invention, whatQI claim asnew and de sire Patent isi 11.0, to Secure by Letterssgf-,

1. A construction of the class described com rising a foldable body of comparatively weamaterial arranged to constitute the side walls of a crate; re-enforcing angular channel members fitting over thecorners of saidbody; removable topV and bottom members of comparatively lstrong material and having re-enforcing members fitting over said side walls; and meansv for securing said top and bottom.members in place on said- Walls, substantially as described. v

2. A construction of the class described comprising a foldable body of comparatively Weak material arranged to constitute the side walls of a crate and folding at the corners to collapse into fiat form; re-enforcing angular channel members fitting over the corners of said body; removable top and bottom members of comparatively strong material and having langes tting over said side Walls; and means for securing said top and bottom walls in place on said walls, sub.- stantially as described.

3. A construction of the class described comprising a oldable body of comparatively weak material arranged to constitute the side Walls of a crate; re-enforcing angularchannel members fitting over the corners of said body; re-enforcing channel members litting over the side walls centrally; removable top and bottom members of comparatively strong material having re-enforcing members tting over said side walls; and

means for lsecuring said top and bottom members in placel for said Walls, substantially as described.

4f. Al construction of the class described comprisin a foldable body of comparatively wea material arranged to constitute the side Walls of a crate and folding at the corners to collapse into flat form; re-enforcing channel members fitting over the side Walls centrally; removable top and bottom lmembers of comparatively strong material and having re-enforcing members itting.

over said side Walls; and means for securing said top and bottom walls in place on sai walls, substantially as described.

5. A construction of. .the class described comprising a foldable body of comparative Weak' material arranged to constitute the.

side walls of a crate; wooden top and bottom members` having flanges iitting over said side walls; and means for securing said top and bottom members in place on said tom members having flanges .,tting over said side Walls; re-enforcing angular channel members fitting over the corners of said body; re-enforcing channel members fitting over the side Walls centrally; and means for securing said top and bottom members in lace on said walls, substantially as descri ed.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specificationgin the presence of two subscribing Witnesses:

EDWARD'E. PINKERTON.

Witnesses:

Fenna C. ArPLE'roN,. MARGARET Auna. 

